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The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face. It’s more likely to dry out, develop dark circles, and show wrinkles.
This is why we have eye creams. These products contain active ingredients that target the under eye area to reduce puffiness, smooth fine lines, and even your skin tone.
But do they actually work, or are they just a trendy, hype product? Can’t you just use a regular moisturiser? In this post, I’ll discuss what I think about eye creams and whether they’re essential to your skincare routine.
Is eye cream necessary or overhyped?
Personally I believe that, if your eyes are a problem area for you, you should have a moisturiser and a separate eye cream. Eye creams are formulated specifically for issues unique to the under eye area, so they will offer much better results than a standard moisturiser.
That said, if you’re going for a minimalist skincare routine, a targeted eye cream isn’t essential. It really just depends on your skin. Personally, my under-eye area has never been much of an issue. I still use an eye cream and I do think they’ve improved my under eyes, but eye creams are not essential to skin health – they only address the skin’s appearance.
However, if you are constantly dealing with bags, discolouration, creasing, and skin drying around your eyes, an eye cream can become a beneficial step in your routine.
How does eye cream work?
To get the results you’re looking for, I always find it’s best to understand a little about how eye creams actually work.
Humectants draw water into the skin
Eye creams often contain humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera. These ingredients pull moisture from the environment into your face, hydrating otherwise dry skin.
Occlusives lock in moisture
Ingredients like petrolatum, beeswax, and lanolin are occlusives. They are like sealants that lock in moisture, preventing water loss throughout the day. There is something called transepidermal water loss – it’s basically water evaporating out of your skin all day. Occlusives prevent this from happening as much as possible.
Since the skin under the eye is prone to dryness, humectants and occlusives are key to keeping this area hydrated, plump, and protected from fine lines and irritation.
Emollients fill tiny cracks in the skin barrier
Factors like dehydration, ageing, and sun exposure, cause micro-cracks in the skin under the eye. These make the skin feel rough and look dull.
Emollients like shea butter, squalane, and ceramides fill these tiny cracks to improve skin texture and brightness.
Caffeine or cooling extracts constrict blood vessels
Anything that is cool or contains caffein9e can temporarily constrict blood vessels just below the skin. When this happens, it reduces the flow of fluid to your under eyes, minimising eye bags and dark circles.
Vitamin C, niacinamide, or light-reflecting particles improve skin tone
Eye creams usually have ingredients dedicated to evening the skin tone. They either lighten hyperpigmentation over time or use optical effects to cover discolouration immediately. Mica is a common ingredient, often used in glowy primers, that can give the appearance of glowy undereyes.
Peptides or retinol promote collagen production
Collagen production helps restore the structure of the skin under the eyes. As the skin becomes stronger and thicker, fine lines and wrinkles (like crow’s feet and under-eye creases) smooth out.
Increased collagen also makes the skin plump and hydrated, resulting in a better texture and overall appearance.
Antioxidants protect from environmental damage
The skin under the eye is already sensitive. Environmental damage from sun exposure, wind, smoke, and other stressors can worsen under eye issues.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and niacinamide protect against these common stressors to keep your skin as healthy as possible.
What is eye cream for?
- Hydrating the skin around the eyes
- Brighten dark circles
- Reduces swelling and puffiness
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
- Temporarily improve the look of under eyes with optics
What are the best eye creams?
Sand & Sky Anti-Ageing Eye Cream
This eye cream has strong anti-ageing benefits from vitamin C and peptides. The ingredients firm up the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, lighten dark circles, and reduce eye bags.
I’ve used lots of eye creams, and I feel this one genuinely works the way it advertises. It’s not only effective, but I like the feel and consistency. It’s cooling and doesn’t pill at all, which is a problem I often run into with eye creams.
If you use this one, I recommend you use it in your morning skincare routine.
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
This Korean eye cream is one of my favourites because it contains retinaldehyde. It’s one of the strongest retinoids you can get over the counter, so it’s extremely effective. Retinaldehyde has less steps to convert into vitamin A on the skin, so more often than not people find it works better than retinol. The concentration in this is 0.02% which sounds low, but for the eye area is pretty perfect!
Not many products, especially eye creams, include retinal. So, when I find a product that has this ingredient, I always try it out. The eye cream also incorporates ginseng and a few other unique ingredients for skin brightening, hydration, and collagen production.
Since this one contains a retinoid, use it at night. Retinoids can break down in the sun, so applying one before heading outside may immediately reduce its effectiveness. Let it work its magic overnight.
For a deeper breakdown of retinaldehyde, make sure to check out my post: “Retinal vs Retinol?”
BeautyPie Über Youth Peptide Eye Cream
I really like this BeautyPie eye cream, as well. It’s extremely hydrating, offers anti-ageing benefits, and layers well under makeup.
The peptides boost collagen production, improve elasticity, calm inflammation, and hydrate the skin around your eyes. They’re a helpful anti-ageing ingredient, as well, though nowhere near as effective as a retinoid.
I recommend using this one at night, but alternating with a retinoid eye cream if you really want anti-ageing results.
The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream
Here’s one I come back to all the time. It’s an old favourite of mine because it’s affordable and always gives me an immediately refreshed look.
It has caffeine in it, which is actually an antioxidant that protects the delicate skin under the eye from premature ageing.
Caffeine also is a vasoconstrictor (it constricts blood vessels) and improves circulation to reduce swelling and puffiness under the eye. Aside from caffeine, this eye cream contains other beneficial ingredients like beeswax, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and peptides to make it lightly hydrating.
Since this one offers some temporary under eye benefits, it’s most effective when used in the morning. I love this product but it’s not going to work majorly for wrinkles, you need a retinoid for that!
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème
Vitamin C, antioxidants, and banana powder work together to colour-correct, hydrate, and brighten the skin under the eye. The ingredients target dark circles, wrinkles, and any under-eye dullness.
What I like about this one is that it works fast. I also appreciate the thin, creamy texture. It doesn’t crease, and can be easily layered underneath makeup.
Because the banana pigment provides instant colour correction, it’s best used in the morning. That said, the other ingredients also support long-term results. The only thing I dislike about this product is the packaging – I find jars so annoying! If they put this in a squeeze tube like the Inkey List, it’s be perfect.
Sculpted by Aimee Energising Eye Cream
I’m not usually a fan of doe-foot applicators, but I honestly fell in love with this one. The applicator is metal, so it’s cooling and feels super refreshing on the skin.
This eye cream and its applicator de-puffs, hydrates, and brightens using a blend of caffeine, a little bit of vitamin C, niacinamide, aloe vera leaf extract, and peptides.
You can use this one as AM skincare, because the texture layers well under makeup. Plus, the cooling effect is so nice first thing in the morning, especially before an early flight!
Dr Sam’s Flawless Nightly Eye 2% Retinoid
This one is a staple for me. With niacinamide, vitamin C, and a retinoid, it includes three of the best ingredients available for under-eye care.
And, you guessed it, since it has a retinoid, it belongs in your evening skincare routine.
This eye cream is super moisturising, which is particularly important for the delicate, thin skin under the eyes. When that area is dry, it wrinkles and creases way more easily.
To revive your under eye area, deep hydration is key. You can use my code NATALIEONEIL for 10% off Dr. Sam’s, but this post is not sponsored whatsoever.
haruharu wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
Here’s another Korean eye cream that uses a retinol for anti-ageing benefits. It also contains bakuchiol, which a lot of people say is a retinoid alternative.
While that’s not exactly accurate, it is a natural ingredient that appears to offer a lot of the same promising results according to early research. I personally love this eye cream, but I have a little less faith in it when it comes to performance on wrinkles and premature ageing.
It’s best to use this one in your evening skincare routine.
Bubble Morning Rays Brightening Eye Cream
If you’re searching for another morning eye cream option, I am currently using Bubble Morning Rays eye cream and I’m really enjoying it. This one uses a mix of seed oils and vitamin C to hydrate, brighten, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
The texture is also nice. It absorbs quickly and isn’t greasy, so you can wear makeup on top without any issues. At first I found this cream a bit slimy, but now that I’m deep into it I have come to really like it. It’s very hydrating!
Coco & Eve Depuff Eye Cream
If you struggle constantly with dry, sensitive skin under the eyes, this is a great product. It contains a complex called Pentavitin which is deeply hydrating. It also feels like a cloud on your under eyes – which is something I never thought I’d say!
However, this one is a little expensive and it doesn’t offer any long term anti-ageing ingredients, which I expect in an eye cream, especially for nighttime.
But if you have dry skin and aren’t really worried about wrinkles, the Coco and Eve Depuff eye cream is so hydrating and smooth. I’d probably only use this one at night just because it is on the thicker side, but you could use it in the morning if that’s what works for your skin.
Eye cream isn’t a hype product and should be included in your skincare routine if your undereyes are a priority to you!
Eye cream has a place in your skincare routine – even if it’s not one of your typical problem areas. For the best results, choose an eye cream that suits your skin type and target concerns, there are a handful out there to choose from!
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